Another year and I am pleased to visit an ‘old friend’….as each year goes by I wonder if he will survive the winter, the cold, the wind and the damp. So I was pleased to see him with a brand new head of leaves.
He was named ‘The Old Man of Calke’ to celebrate this area of parkland being designated as a National Nature Reserve. Ancient Oak’s are a major feature of these woods but this particular Oak was so named as it believed to be at least 1100 years old. An enormous hollow trunk now sports only a handful of branches but none the less still has a handsome head of new green leaves. One day it will disappear but I still expect it to outlive me.
It is early summer and the warm weather combined with all the wet weather we have ‘enjoyed’ has brought on an abundance of growth in the hedgerows. At the moment the big winner would seem to be Wild Dog Roses, their delicate shades of white and pink presenting a fresh and welcome appearance in contrast to all the greens.
I mention all the wet weather we have had, yes much needed rain to top up our reservoirs like this one at Staunton Harold now over flowing…….
I say much needed as water levels have been at drought level for a good while now. Just as a reminder here is the same reservoir some 11 months ago and as you can see a very different situation. The dark shape in the right foreground is a dead Pike one of many fish that didn’t survive.
18th June
DAVID OAKES - IMAGES. 